Asparagus Festival finds new home, new name for 2015

​STOCKTON -- ​The Asparagus Festival is staying in Stockton, but its new home is the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.

The Record

​STOCKTON -- ​The Asparagus Festival is staying in Stockton, but its new home is the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.

Local businessman Tony Noceti and S​an ​Joaquin​ County Fair chief executive officer Kelly Olds announced Monday the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival would be held April 17-19 at the fairgrounds. The Stockton Asparagus Festival ceased operations in June after 29 years due to financial issues.

A ​news conference is scheduled at the fairgrounds at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Noceti, a farmer from French Camp and owner of the Noceti Group, stated he wanted to do the event to keep the festival in the city and county and to maintain its status as a supporter of nonprofit organizations.

“One of the main reasons I'm doing this is that I want this festival to stay here. The asparagus festival has always been in Stockton and San Joaquin County,” Noceti said. “We want to reach out to the nonprofit organizations and the many dedicated people who have been involved in the past and hopefully get many new people involved.”

The Stockton Asparagus ​Festival ​began in 1986 at Oak Grove Regional Park and later moved to Weber Point Events Center in ​downtown Stockton. But attendance decreased sharply the past two years​,​ and a renegotiated contract with the city included an increasing reimbursement for city services hindered the event. The festival ceased operations June 11.

The Noceti Group saved Stockton 99 Speedway when it took ​over operations of the track in 2009 after a three-year hiatus. The group also promotes at the go-ka​r​t and dirt tracks at the fairgrounds.

Noceti said he wants to keep many of the elements of the former festival, including Asparagus Alley, arts and crafts, concerts and carnival rides. He also hopes to add some new elements.

Read Tuesday's Record for more on this story from staff writer Scott Linesburgh.